国际英语新闻：French navy hands over nine suspected pirates to Somali authorities

BOSSASO, Somalia, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The French navy taking part in the international naval force patrolling the Somali waters on Thursday handed over nine suspected Somali pirates to the authorities in the northeastern semiautonomous Somali region of Puntland.

    The French navy captured the pirates as they were trying to hijack a ship in the Gulf of Aden, where international naval forces have been patrolling to curb rampant piracy in the area, a senior regional official said.

    "The suspects will be held until they are brought before a court and convicted of any crimes they may have committed," Abdulahi Saeed Samatar, regional Minister for Security, said.

    The suspects were taken from the French ships at the port of Bossaso, the commercial capital of Puntland, and will be remained in the central prison in the city where dozens of other pirates are held.

    The French navy has previously handed over several batches of pirates to local authorities who tried them in especial courts in the region which has been a hotbed for piracy and hostage taking.

    The authorities said that they have signed an agreement with the French navy regarding the handing over of any apprehended for being involved in piracy off the Somali waters which has become one of the most dangerous water ways in the world.

    Since the United Nations authorized last year the fight of piracy in the Somali waters, several countries have sent naval forces to take part in the international efforts to combat the piracy menace off Somali which has since reduced drastically.

    Last year more than a hundred vessels were attacked while nearly fifty ships actually been hijacked but most were released after ransom was paid to the pirates.